Hem guide



y 9, 1953 L. s. JOHNSON 2,638,672

HEM GUIDE Filed Jan. 8, 1951 Leonard 6. Johnson IN V EN TOR.

Patented May 19, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in marking devicesand the primary object of the present invention is to provide a hemguide and gauge for garments.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a hemgauge for use in pinning a hem before basting, such as a skirt hem,curtains, or other such edges that require finishing.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a hem guide soconstructed as to permit the same to be retained in front of a sewingmachine needle as the hem is being sewed to provide a constant check tothe accuracy of the hem.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a hem guidehaving a finger grip and a smooth undersurface to prevent the marring ofthe sewing machine, sewing table or the snagging of materials upon whichthe guide is disposed.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a hem guide includinga scale and a slide member that is spring retained adjusted with respectto the scale whereby a chalk may be placed adjacent the scale and inalignment with the slide.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the present invention in use; and

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially onthe plane of section line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose ofillustration is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the numeral 10 represents an elongated flat panel having anupturned longitudinal edge forming a finger grip 12. The otherlongitudinal edge M,

of the panel ll] is beveled and is provided with a scale l6 thereon.

The upper face of the panel I0 is provided with an elongated dovetailgroove [6a that parallels the bevel edge l4. A traveling member [8overlies the groove Ilia and includes a pointer 2B that extendstransversely across the bevel edge [A and which overlies the scale I6.

A fastener 22 extends through the traveling member I8 and its lower endpasses through a concave-convex spring 24 and is flattened against theconcave surface of the spring 24. The convexed surface of the spring 24yieldingly bears against the dovetail edge or inclined side walls 26 ofthe groove Ilia. to yieldingly urge the undersurface of the member I8against the fiat upper surface of the panel l0 and hence the member itlongitudinally adjustably upon the panel.

In practical use of the present invention, the flat undersurface of thepanel I0 is placed upon a garment or the like G and the traveling memheris moved to a desired position in order to indicate the length of hem.Then, the operator will mark the garment G by a chalk or the like C asthe panel 10 is manually moved upon the garment by the user grasping thefinger gripping portion l2.

Due to the flat and smooth undersurface of the panel It, the panel willnot elTect a marring of the sewing machine or a snagging of the garmentor material G. The inclination of the pointer 28 and the bevel edge Mwill permit the device to be extended to the sewing machine needle asthe hem is being sewed thereby providing a constant guide or check tothe accuracy of the hem.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of thedevice will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A moredetailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shownand described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same issusceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of theinvention as herein described and the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A hem guide comprising an elongated flat panel having an. upturned edgeforming a finger grip, said panel having a longitudinal dovetail grooveand a scale thereon alongside of said groove, a traveling memberoverlying the groove and resting upon the upper surface of the panel,said member including a pointer overlying the scale, and aconcavo-ccnvexed spring positioned in said groove and secured to theunder surface of said member, the convex surface of said springyieldingly bearing against the dovetail edges of said groove and urgingthe member against the panel.

LEONARD G. JOHNSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 261,673 Chataigne July 25, 1882 287,480 Smith Oct. 30, 1883538,709 Spafard May 7, 1895 776,897 Ferris Dec. 6, 1904 1,110,195 ErwinSept. 8, 1914 1,725,334 Brannock Aug. 20, 1929

